Last season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) finalists Arsenal made a winning start to their European campaign this time around and look to follow it up against Lille on matchday two.
Match News and Current Form
The new international break format this season means it’s over a month since Arsenal beat Napoli on UCL matchday one. That was their 13th successive league phase win in the UCL, and the Gunners have long-since excelled at this stage, losing just two of their last 31 group/league phase games in this competition (W25, D4). The good omens don’t stop there for Mikel Arteta’s men, who have won 15 of their last 16 home games at this stage (D1), and they warmed up for this clash with a home win against Leeds at the weekend (2-1), their seventh victory in succession at the Emirates, although the last two did see them concede first.
Lille are already on the back foot in this UCL campaign after they were beaten 3-2 at home by Real Betis on matchday one. They’ve at least responded with two wins from their three competitive games since, with both victories accompanied by a clean sheet following their 1-0 win against Le Havre on Saturday, and that’s the kind of defensive form they’re going to have to lean on heavily given they’re without a shut out in 12 UCL away games. They shouldn’t be discounted on that basis, as Les Dogues have actually won nine of their last 11 competitive away games (L2), though one of those defeats did come on English shores against Aston Villa.
Head-to-Head History
This is a first-ever H2H, but Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven UCL home games against French sides in the group/league phase (W5, D2). Lille’s fortunes are polar opposite having lost their last seven UCL outings against English opposition.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Six of Arsenal’s last seven home games produced under 9.5 corners.
Arsenal have kept 18 clean sheets in their last 24 European home matches.
Nine of Lille’s last 12 competitive outings produced under 2.5 goals.
Nine of Lille’s last 11 UCL proper away games saw both teams score.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Arsenal’s Bruno Guimarães has a knack for popping up with big goals, as his winner off the bench against Leeds on Saturday was his third this term for club or country to serve as the decisive goal in victory, with all three scored after half-time. Lille’s Olivier Giroud returns to the Emirates bidding to become just the third player in history to score for and against the Gunners in the UCL - five of his last six goals in this competition arrived between the 40th and 60th minutes.
Arsenal are likely to be without Christos Tzolis but Cristhian Mosquera is closing in on a return, while Lille’s Ethan Mbappé missed their game against Le Havre.
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Betting Analysis
Arsenal’s home form in this competition speaks for itself, so backing anything other than an Arsenal win to nil would be going against the form book.
Author: Chris Wilson